The event, organized by the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo, was aimed at promoting existing socio-environmental practices from the various sectors of society.

The Seminar convened entrepreneurs and representatives from the government and civil society who are committed with the creation of new management models to contribute to the design of an inclusive society that aligns economic growth to social and environmental responsibility.

Steven Stone and Denise Hamú spoke about UNEP’s Green Economy Report and highlighted that Rio+20 will be an opportunity for Brazil to occupy a prominent position in the promotion of change.

Workshop on the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity

The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Ministry of the Environment of Brazil, in partnership with UNEP and Conservation International (CI), promoted a workshop on the TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) methodology for key representatives of Brazilian states.

Representatives and experts from the government and business sectors, as well as from the industry, non-governmental and international sectors, were invited on 24 November to discuss challenges and opportunities for the implementation of TEEB in Brazil. The Ministry of the Environment intends to launch he preliminary TEEB Brazil report at Rio+20. The training of national actors is part of the planned activities hat compose the process of development of the Brazilian version of the TEEB report. The workshop was held in Brasilia.

National Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production

On 23 November, the UNEP Brazil Representative and the Chief of the UNEP Economic and Trade Branch participated in the National Council for the Environment (CONAMA) meeting on the launch of Brazil’s National Plan for Sustainable Consumpt ion and Production. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Environment, Izabella Teixeira, along with officials from CONAMA, which includes all State Secretaries of the Environment.

The Minister utlined the importance of the national plan and highlighted the role of UNEP in supporting its design and implementation. The discussion was placed in the context of a green economy transition considering an expanding and empowered middle class who has been acquiring new purchasing power, and the need to reduce waste and contain the environmental footprint of consumption.

Women for Sustainability

With the aim of consolidating a Network of Brazilian Women for Sustainability, the Ministry of the Environment promoted the “Women towards Rio+20” Seminar, which gathered over 150 Brazilian women holding high-level positions in private and public organizations. The event, held in Brasilia on 8 November, addressed themes such as the influence of women in the promotion of sustainable corporate strategies. UNEP Brazil Representative, Denise Hamu, spoke at the Green Entreprenueurship and Sustainable Business Panel. The meeting was led by the Minister of the Environment, Izabella Teixeira. A work plan was created in order to elaborate proposals for Rio+20. She said that the focus of the meeting was bringing public policies that promoted the inclusion of women in the economy and their contribution in new standards of consumption and production. In addition, the role of women in sustainability boards of public and private enterprises, in fostering green entrepreneurship (sustainable business) and promoting values pro-sustainability, was discussed.